Finally, somebody in the college football hierarchy got something right.

Finally, somebody in this cartel thought outside their tiny box.

Finally, they are doing something for the players and families.

After opening their arms wide to grab all the cash they can from the table, college football is opening up its wallets.

Along with the dust a few dollars have flown out and are headed in the right direction.

When Ohio State plays Oregon inside Jerry World in Dallas Monday night, there will be more than a few fat cats in the stands.

More important than the corporate bigwigs in attendance, there will be family members of the people who will actually decide the championship.

For the first time the NCAA granted a waiver Tuesday that allows the College Football Playoff to provide a reimbursement of up to $1,250 per parent or guardian that will cover hotel accommodations, travel and meals.

That will give those families who would have trouble making the game for financial reasons a chance to be a part of what their kids have created.

This comes after years of dollar hoarding by the NCAA, which is quick to claim all the cash college football brings in but slow to even consider handing it out to those who play the game.

But finally, common sense has taken over.

Over the years college football has made more money then the NCAA could ever spend. It has given those in suits sitting up high in suites great power over those who wear uniforms and toil on the turf below.

It is those fat cats who set the rules all must play by.

Give money to your brother for books and you would likely lose your own scholarship.

Get a couple bucks to fly home for the funeral of a family member and suddenly your playing future was in jeopardy.

Signing a few autographs for some cash and next thing you know you are suspended for two games.

Yet the guys who make the rules have gone unchecked, and unwilling to write checks when it comes to helping those “student-athletes” who they claim to be protecting.

It is their greed that has helped keep the bowl system going and made us wait until this year to finally have a playoff system.

Their greed has led to total control.

But now we have a new way of thinking. The four-team playoff, which we can only hope will be expanded as soon as possible, has also opened hope to more changes.

Allowing the playoff group to help pay travel expenses of players’ family members is a great start.

For these young men, all of whom will be put under great pressure over the next few days leading up to the game, it is important to have family members to lean on.

We often forget these college kids are as young as 19 and 20. We see professionals wilt under the bright spotlight, so helping out kids is an easy thing.

It’s not like a few dollars here or there is going to hurt the playoff system or the NCAA. When it comes to big-time college football there are plenty of dollars to go around.

Now think of the possibilities. A lot of people involved in college sports, especially football, have talked about the need to give some money back to players.

It makes sense. They have earned the money for those suits so they should at least get a few dollars. Figuring how much per each player is above my pay grade, but if these guys can work out mega-buck television contracts I think they are smart enough to figure this out.

But that is for the future. For today it is good they finally did something right for the kids and their families.

l

Jim Gazzolo is managing sports editor. Email him at jgazzolo@americanpress.com

(MGNonline)